. As of 1025 a.m. EDT on Friday, the U.S. benchmark, WTI Crude, was up 0.84% at $83.92. The international benchmark, Brent Crude, traded 0.86% higher at $88.77. Earlier on Friday in Asian trade, oil prices rose by 2% after the Pentagon said that U.S. military forces conducted self-defense strikes on two facilities in eastern Syria used by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps IRGC and affiliated groups.
” Uncertainty about the Hamas-Israel war and possible repercussions on the wider Middle East region continue to move oil prices, as do fears of economic headwinds due to rising interest rates. On Thursday, futures prices for Brent and WTI settled lower—the lowest level in two weeks, falling by more than 2% on the day as Israel agreed to delay an anticipated ground invasion of Gaza until at least later this week. Prices were also lower on Wednesday after the U.S.